A STRANGE LOOP On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread — Page 16

As a huge fan of both Six and A Strange Loop, I think A Strange Loop is certainly the more Important show - I felt more enriched leaving ASL than I did leaving Six (even though I’ve seen Six literally dozens of times), and I think ASL is a show that NEEDS to be on Broadway and has never really been on Broadway before. I do think Six is a lot of fun and has great music, and it’s progressive in some ways (I think All You Wanna Do is actually a VERY revolutionary song in my corner of the universe where for centuries people have portrayed Katherine Howard as a stupid naive slut, and to have a song that depicts her in a more historically accurate way as a victim of grooming and abuse is a huge deal for people who are into British history, as I am), but not nearly to the degree it COULD be. I get frustrated with the book and the concept of Six for this reason. It could be so much more transformative than it is. Whereas ASL just goes *all the way* and I love it for that. ASL speaks its truth without catering to the fears and sensitivities of white audiences.

I do think ASL wins the Tony for best book, Six wins for best score, and it’s a toss up between the two for best musical. But honestly I’d be thrilled if either of them won - we’ve been blessed this season with excellent new musicals, honestly. And whichever one wins shouldn’t detract from the other - I think the actors and creatives of both would be cheering the other on if it won for best musical.

forfivemoreminutes said: "Rakesh Natarajan said: "Kad said: "Oleksinski’s review is remarkably juvenile."

Yeah... I'm not really a fan of how he dedicated two paragraphs of his review to complaining about how the show uses profane language:

"Prepare your ears: The musical is also absolutely filthy. If “Spring Awakening” or “The Book of Mormon” had you reaching for your rosary, best bring along some holy water and frankincense for this one. On the language front, Jackson goes overboard.

The amount of beyond-vulgar sex talk in this show is really through the roof. And not in any kind of brave, “to boldly go” way. One term — to find a euphemism for it would take a supercomputer — said during a hookup with a racist white guy almost made me lose my lunch."

I also don't think his critiques about how the show doesn't give us a break from Usher's misery are entirely valid (or representative of the show's actual message either):

"There’s no respite from Usher’s misery, since even his art is, well, about his misery. The show amounts to a series of disappointments leading to the conclusion that life is nothing but a series of disappointments. So, grin and bear it.""

The comment about there being no respite from Usher’s misery is something that would never be said about a play about white people written by a white person. Has this dude never seen Les Miserables? It’s literally called THE MISERABLES. There is no respite from misery there either…and yet that kind of show doesn’t get the same critique. Because it’s only *Black* men who have to be strong all the time and can’t be vulnerable throughout a 100 minute musical."

Eh, I don't think that's a fair claim. You've not read his review of Les Miz. You're just assuming. I. didn't really read his review as a negative. It felt very on the fence of like "I liked parts, but I think I'd like it in a smaller venue" vibe. Which, he's a critic, he's entitled to his opinion. I enjoy his reviews for his frankness. 

The language thing is whatever. The podcasts I listen to he'd probably have a heart attack. 

There's no way A Strange Loop doesn't win the Tony. it's def a prestige musical and I think (from what I've seen / heard ) it's great. 

I'm reminded of this from Title of Show:

"I'd rather be nine people's favorite thing than a hundred people's ninth favorite thing."

How this translates into the box office is another story.

inception said:

But does this show cater to a Black audience? To me it seems like it will be just as wholly offensive to plenty of Black families. I don't see the audience that flocks every year to see the Alvin Ailey company rushing to buy tickets to this.”

I disagree. I don’t know any black gay millennial who has seen the show and doesn’t feel some sort of connection to it. It highlights the good, bad, and the ugly of being black and queer, and it’s VERY accurate. That’s why (most) black gays love the show. We don’t get representation of our experience like this.  
 

 

Lot666 said: "It concerns me that Oleksinski of The New York Post is still reporting that "the sound balance on Broadway is off, and it's hard to hear the lyrics over the band".

I sure hope they get this fixed soon."

Honestly if it hasn’t been fixed by now..

YvanEhtNioj said: "Lot666 said: "It concerns me that Oleksinski of The New York Post is still reporting that "the sound balance on Broadway is off, and it's hard to hear the lyrics over the band".

I sure hope they get this fixed soon."

Honestly if it hasn’t been fixed by now.."

If the current sound designer can't do this properly, then it's time to hire a new one. It's now or never for this show.

Well, the word of mouth on this board and the reviews last night made me decide to swap out Chicago with Pamela Anderson for A Strange Loop instead during my May trip - I hope I am making a good decision! I got front mezzanine row E seat 107. I am guessing this will be a good view? 

Also - I thought Telecharge was allowing refunds/exchanges on their website through the end of the month (I refunded my Phantom ticket from my orders page with the click of a button last week), but I don't see that option for my Chicago order (or any other orders) now... I sent them an email, but was wondering if anyone knew what was going on with that?

One thing I find odd is that people are getting so upset when the “graphic”, for lack of a better word, language in the show is mentioned. Now this is coming from me, a former phone sex operator. But yeah it IS graphic in parts and I’m glad it’s being mentioned so people going in can be aware. Imagine being a family on vacation with your kids and end up listening to a conversation about swallowing loads and having your hole prolapse. AGAIN - I’m not saying I give a sh*t about that but people do deserve to know that for a Broadway musical, it IS very graphic in its language. 

Well, the word of mouth on this board and the reviews last night made me decide to swap out Chicago with Pamela Anderson for A Strange Loop instead during my May trip - I hope I am making a good decision! I got front mezzanine row E seat 107. I am guessing this will be a good view? 

You are and yes. Have a wonderful time. 

Observer is usually one of the first to post, but Cote's review didn't go up until this morning:

Review: ‘A Strange Loop’ Gracefully Explores Issues of Queer, Black Identity

https://observer.com/2022/04/review-a-strange-loop-gracefully-explores-issues-of-queer-black-identity/

"As we stagger to the end of the 2021-22 post-pandemic Broadway reboot, there are two best new musicals this season. Both are about Michael Jackson. Who are different people."

ElephantLoveMedley said: "Genuinely surprised by how well-received this show is. Huge congrats to the team involved, but I found this to be one of the most overhyped and least focused shows of the season.

Also, while I did not agree with many parts of Oleksinski's review, his point about the "beyond-vulgar" talk in the show is true. I know I sound like such a prude but in my opinion, this show did go over the top in terms of its graphic elements.

When it comes to the Tony, I personally think Sixis in a different league in terms of being a well-polished and well-engineered show. I think ofSixaslaser-sharp and witty, whereStrange Loopis over-the-top and not nearly as satisfying as a theatergoer."

Why would you be surprised? This production received rave reviews twice already: off-Broadway and in DC. The material is Pulitzer Prize winning, amongst other awards it’s scooped up since 2019. This was on a glide path to acclaim. 

Lot666 said: "YvanEhtNioj said: "Lot666 said: "It concerns me that Oleksinski of The New York Post is still reporting that "the sound balance on Broadway is off, and it's hard to hear the lyrics over the band".

I sure hope they get this fixed soon."

Honestly if it hasn’t been fixed by now.."

If the current sound designer can't do this properly, then it's time to hire a new one. It's now or never for this show."

FWIW, Adam Feldman from TimeOut also commented about the sound issues:

https://twitter.com/FeldmanAdam/status/1519320858690523138

FWIW, my main quibble with the Broadway version of A Strange Loop, if I had to make one, is that the sound design could be clearer. I hope they'll tweak this aspect. The words are worth hearing.

I sat Orch Row E on Monday, and sometimes couldn't hear the vocals over the band.  (The previous comment about lyrical density is spot on, I think -- I'd seen the show once before and have listened to the album a few times, and still couldn't make out what they were saying in parts of a few songs.)

Updated On: 4/27/22 at 01:29 PM

Jeffrey Karasarides said: Since there are 13 musical productions in contention this season, there will automatically be 5 nominees for Best Direction of a Musical this year. I currently think the lineup will include...

Jamie Armitage & Lucy Moss-Six
Stephen Brackett-A Strange Loop
Marianne Elliott-Company
Michael Longhurst-Caroline, or Change
Conor McPherson-Girl From the North Country"

 

There's no way that both Christopher Wheeldon (MJ) and Jerry Zaks (MUSIC MAN) don't get in here --  probably in lieu of STRANGE LOOP and GIRL FROM NORTH COUNTRY.